{{short description|Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross}} {{other people|Frederick Edwards}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox military person |name= Frederick Jeremiah Edwards {{post nominals| VC}} |birth_date= {{Birth date|1894|10|03|df=yes}} |death_date= {{Death date and age|1964|03|09|1894|10|03|df=yes}} |birth_place= Queenstown, County Cork, Ireland |death_place= Richmond, Surrey, England |image= VCFrederickJeremiahEdwards.jpg |caption= |nickname= |allegiance= {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} United Kingdom |service_years= |rank= Corporal |branch= 23px British Army |commands= |unit=12th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment |battles= World War I – Battle of the Somme |awards= Victoria Cross |other_work= }}
'''Frederick Jeremiah Edwards''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|VC}} (3 October 1894 – 9 March 1964) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
==Biography== Edwards was born in Queenstown (now named Cobh), County Cork, Ireland. As a boy he attended the Royal Hibernian Military School in Dublin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frederick J Edwards VC – victoriacross |url=http://vconline.org.uk/frederick-j-edwards-vc/4586617767 |website=vconline.org.uk |accessdate=10 May 2020}}</ref> He was 21 years old, and a private in the 12th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), British Army during the First World War, and was awarded the VC for his deeds on 26 September 1916 in the Battle of Thiepval Ridge at Thiepval, France: part of the line was held up by machine-gun fire and all the officers had become casualties. There was confusion and indication of retirement. Private Edwards, grasping the situation and on his own initiative, dashed out towards the gun, which he knocked out with his bombs. This very gallant act, coupled with great presence of mind and disregard of personal danger, made further advance possible and cleared up a dangerous situation.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 29836|date=25 November 1916|page=11526 |supp=y}}</ref>
He was later promoted to corporal and after leaving the British Army he was forced to sell his medal to make ends meet. He died on 9 March 1964 at the Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond (then in Surrey, now in London) and is buried in Richmond Cemetery.<ref name="Richmond">{{cite web | url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/libraries/branch_libraries/local_studies_collection/victoria_cross_holders_buried_in_the_borough/frederick_jeremiah_edwards| title=Frederick Jeremiah Edwards | publisher=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames | work=Local Studies Library: Victoria Cross holders buried in the borough | date=8 July 2016 | access-date=13 October 2021}}</ref>
His Victoria Cross was displayed at the National Army Museum, Chelsea, England.
==In popular culture== Edwards was portrayed by Adam Webb in the 2006 BBC docudrama ''The Somme – From Defeat to Victory'', a film made to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Sources==
'''Listed in order of publication year ''' *''The Register of the Victoria Cross'' (1981, 1988 and 1997) *{{cite journal|first=Brian D. H.|last=Clarke|title=A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men|journal=The Irish Sword|volume=XVI|issue=64|pages=185–287|year=1986}} *''Ireland's VCs'' (Department of Economic Development, 1995) *{{cite book|last=Doherty|first=Richard|author2=Truesdale, David|author-link = Richard Doherty|title=Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross|publisher=Four Courts Press|date=July 2000|isbn=978-1-85182-442-7}} *{{cite book|last = Harvey|first = David|authorlink = David Charles Harvey|title = Monuments to Courage|publisher = Naval & Military Press Ltd|year = 2000|doi =|isbn =1-84342-356-1}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20041204085907/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/surrey.htm Stewart, Iain (23 November 2004. ''Grave location for holders of the Victoria Cross in the county of Surrey'', www.victoriacross.org.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2021.] *[https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2429350 ''Lives of the First World War: Frederick Jeremiah Edwards''], Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Frederick Jeremiah}}
Category:1894 births Category:1964 deaths Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:Burials at Richmond Cemetery Category:Irish Battle of the Somme recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Irish soldiers in the British Army Category:Middlesex Regiment soldiers Category:People from Cobh Category:Military personnel from County Cork